After decades of work in the White House Press Corps, Paul Mann knew he’d left millions of miles of contrails from jetting around the globe. Instead of sloughing off his air miles as an unavoidable work responsibility, Paul felt a pang of conscience about his disproportionate contribution of greenhouse gases to the Earth’s atmosphere (and here in the first world, nearly all of us are making a disproportionate impact). Since he came to work at Humboldt State University, Paul’s made an impressive effort to reduce his greenhouse gas output with his commuting choices.

In the more than four years Paul Mann has worked for HSU, he’s commuted to work either by bus or in a carpool almost every day he’s shown up on campus. That’s quite a distinction, especially among similarly-ranked campus peers with elegantly-furnished Siemens Hall offices.

On July 5th, Paul let me interview him in his office, decorated with replicas of Greek sculpture and model cars (he once raced stock cars). I asked him why he’d gone car-free (he’s not owned a car since 1998, when he worked in DC). One reason, he said, was to save money to spend on better things. “I save tens of thousands of dollars by refraining from car ownership, by not being burdened with the costs of insurance, registration, maintenance, and payments.”

In addition to shackling off the economic burden of car ownership and operation, he’s found that it frees him of time-consuming hassles. “I enjoy not having a car because it greatly simplifies my life,” Paul said. “ I don’t have to make trips to the repair shop anymore. I don’t have to spend hours waiting. The time I spent waiting for repairs was more than the time I spend waiting at the bus stop.”

Of course, one of the primary reasons for his commute choices is environmental. “I’m doing penance [for jetting everywhere with the Press Corps], as well as making a tiny contribution to the reduction of air pollution.” Paul says he “feels a personal satisfaction in being seen by others using the bus. In my own small way I’m setting a good example.”

Paul occasionally sees other HSU staff, faculty, and administrators using the bus, and wouldn’t mind seeing more. He arrives on campus via Redwood Transit System from McKinleyville at 8:30am most weekday mornings, taking advantage of HSU Parking & Commuter Services’ discounted bus passes. Definitely planning on getting a Jack Pass when they’re available, he says. Paul occasionally carpools, but misses the more organized and better-supported carpooling programs he was accustomed to in Washington, DC (Green Wheels is working on it, Paul!).

Thanks for riding the bus, Paul, and for agreeing to appear in the Community Wheel!